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Pakistan Army personnel try to break up a protest by internally displaced presons from the North Waziristan tribal region outside a World Food Programme (WFP) food distribution point in Bannu on June 24, 2014. — Photo by AFP

Internally displaced persons protest outside a World Food Programme (WFP) food distribution point in Bannu on June 24, 2014. — Photo by AFP

Internally displaced persons protest outside a World Food Programme (WFP) food distribution point in Bannu on June 24, 2014. — Photo by AFP

An internally displaced person shouts slogans during a protest outside a World Food Programme (WFP) food distribution point in Bannu on June 24, 2014.— Photo by AFP

Pakistan Army personnel arrive try to break up a protest by internally displaced persons outside a World Food Programme (WFP) food distribution point in Bannu on June 24, 2014.— Photo by AFP

Pakistan Army personnel try to break up a protest by internally displaced persons outside a World Food Programme (WFP) food distribution point in Bannu on June 24, 2014. — Photo b AFP

BANNU: Police and troops fired warning shots Tuesday to break up a protest over food shortages by people who have fled a military operation against the Taliban.

The offensive has seen the northwestern tribal area of North Waziristan hit by more than a week of shelling and air raids, and more than 450,000 people have fled ahead of an impending ground assault, with many going to the nearby town of Bannu.

Anger at problems with food distribution spilled over on Tuesday, with people blocking the main road from Bannu to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa provincial capital Peshawar.

An AFP reporter saw around 500 people blocking the road and pelting security forces with rocks in protest, prompting police and soldiers to fire warning shots in the air to disperse them.

Mohammad Nazir Khan, a lawmaker from the region, said many people who should be receiving aid were having problems with registration and documents.

Local administration official Aurang Zeb said more food distribution points would be opened soon and the authorities would do all they could to help those in need.

Pakistan's armed forces have used jet fighters, tanks and artillery in the offensive, killing around 300 people they have described as militants, though the toll and identity of the victims are impossible to verify.

Comments (8) Closed

The federal government has totally failed on all levels. Not only is their performance questionable, but even their legitimacy as well (given all the question marks over election rigging).

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qalatJun 24, 2014 10:48pm

Pakistan should request china and middle east for assistance and they will surely help as always, Pakistan should not hesitate and has to respond quickly to the worsening situation of all IDP's

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Amir BangashJun 24, 2014 11:33pm

Please feed IDPs and don,t beat them because the are already faced with great difficulties.

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ShoaibJun 25, 2014 01:33am

@Amir Bangash Very true. We must come forward to help them like this Nation helped the Earth Quack victims in 2005. Media must show the plight of these IDPs instead of wasting their time on Canadian National Tahir alQadiri;rather Tahir alQadiri must also come forward to help these displaced People of Pakistan.

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zafar iqbalJun 25, 2014 06:41pm

It is essential to finish enemie of
Pakistan.
But have we done enough homework before this operatio.
Did we manage enough food & shelter for the IDPs before operation?
Ar you sure, only enemies are being killed?
If most o the people killed are your own citizens, then definitely its a failur.
Our army is best in the world, I hope as the people love them, they also take car of the innocents.
I wish them a wonderful success.
Zafa Iqbal

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khanmJun 25, 2014 06:49pm

@Ashfaq ... they were not unfortunate but are made unfortunate by our lack of planing.

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zafar iqbalJun 25, 2014 06:59pm

Well it was essentialg now to finis the enemie of Pakistan.
But had we done enough homework before starting this operation.
Now we're calculating shelterand food.
Provinces are fighting with federa government for money.
The mos importan thing is killing of the innocent people.
We love our army but they should take care of the innocent casualties.
Zafar Iqbal